U-bolt-forming machine.



J. M; srvmu. v U-BOLT FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-271K916- Patnted Dec. '11, 1917.

'1. M. SMITH.

U-BOLT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27.19%-

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 tlnrirn' JOHN M. sta rs, or sen rnnne, new, ianrrrco,

U-BQLT-EORMING anning,

Application filed septeniber 27, 1916;

Z! all whom: it may concern:

Be it known that 1, J HN M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Pedro, in the county of Santa Fe and, State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in tl-BoltFor1ning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to metal bending and has particular reference to new and useful improvements in U-bolt manu: facturing machines.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a J-bolt forming machine having a novel and durable structure for making ll-bolts from straight threaded. rods, the structure of the device providing a machine for quickly andaccurately bending threaded rods to form U-bolts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tl-bolt machine having novel means for holding a straight rod during the bending process.

it still further object of my invention is to provide a U-bolt machine which is simple in construction, strong and durable, cheap to manufacture and easy to manipulate.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of my improved U-bclt making machine will appear from the following detailed description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a U- bolt machine embodying the improvements of my invention;

T ig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, a portion thereof being in section; and Fig. 3 is a fragmental enlarged top plan view of the clamping and bending members.

Tteferring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, designates a table or platform which may be suit ably mounted on legs or the like.

It pair of parallel arranged stringers 11 and 12 are mounted on the table 10, said stringers being secured to said table by means of bolts 13, said bolts passing through transverse bars 14: and said stringers into the table 10. The bars 14: are mounted in slight spaced relation to the stringers 11 and 12 to accommodate anti-friction rollers specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1217;.

fierial l lo. 122,398;

15 fora purpose which will, hereinafter HP:- pear.

A clamping block 16 is slidable between the stringers 11 and 12, said block engaging the rollers to reduce friction. One end of the block 156 is provided with an extension 17 formed with an opening 18 to receive a bolt 19., said bolt connecting divergent arms 20 to said. extension, said arms. having the free ends thereof pivotally connected, by means of a bolt 21 to the short arm 22 of a bell-crank lever 23, said lever being pivoted on a bolt 24- carried in a bl-frame The tl-frame 25 is fastened to the table 10 by means of a bolt 26. The main portion of the lever 23 extends beneath the table to the forward end thereof, a handle 27 being formed on the free end of said lever. The bracket 28 is fastened to the table 10 by means. of a plurality of bolts 29, said bracket entending vertically adjacent the path of movement of the free ends of said lever. The bracket is provided with a plurality of transversely extending pins 30 beneath which the free end of the lever is to be engaged for retaining the same in various positions for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

it ll-bolt forming block 32 is mounted on the top of the table 10 to be engaged by the inner free end of the clamping block 16. A bolt portion 33 extends from said block through an opening 3-fin the table 10, a nut 35 serving to retain said block in position. If desired, the block may be removed and a different shaped block substituted therefor. The same is true of the clamping block 16.

The til-bolt former comprises levers 36 having handles 38 on their free ends, the inner ends of the levers being pivoted on bolts 39, said bolts being carried by a transverse bar l0 which is in turn carried by the block 16. The inner ends of the lever 36 are formed with cam portions l1 to engage the free ends of a straight bar 12 which is to be formed into a tit-bolt. The inner free ends of the stringers 11 and 12 are recessed as 44 to accommodate the cam portions of the lever 36 when in non-clamping position.

In use a straight arm such as that shown in the drawing and designated 42 is placed between the clamping block 16 and the forming block 32. The lever is now moved downwardly to engage one of the pins 30 carried by the bracket 28 whereby to firmly clamp the rod 42 in the position shown. This movement also brings the cam member into proximity with the exposed end of the rod and by swinging the lever 36 into positions at right angles to those shown the free portions of the rod will be bent about the forming block 32 quickly and accurately forming a U-bolt.

In order to prevent marring of the threads on the bolt I provide a shoe S having an arm 46 to engage one of the levers 36. The shoe is provided with a curved face 4-7 to engage the bolt and prevent marring of threads. The shoe slides upon the lever and thus engages the bolt without undue friction. In the present instance there are two of the shoes employed.

The lever 23 is preferably inherently resilient permitting flexing of the same to escape the pins when being moved vertically, the lever, by virtue of its inherent resiliency automatically engaging beneath the pin connected thereto when released. It will be readily apparent that I have provided a novel and simple device for forming U-bolts, none of the parts being complicated or expensive tomanufacture. If desired, various shapes of U-bolts may be afiorded by providing different shaped forming blocks and clamping blocks.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a U-bolt forming machine the combination of a base having a forming block mounted thereon, a pair of spaced stringers on said base, transverse bars connecting the upper edges of said stringers, friction rollers carried by vertical pivots on said bars adjacent the inner sides of the stringers, a clamping block between said stringers engaging the rollers and adapted to cooperate with said forming block, means for moving said clamping block longitudinally, and U-bolt forming means carried by said clamping block.

2. In a U-bolt forming machine the combination of a base having a forming block mounted thereon, a clamping block slidably mounted on said base adapted to cooperate with the forming block, a bell crank lever having one of its portions pivotally mounted at one end edge of the base, links connecting the free end of said portion and the clamping block, the other portion of said lever extending beneath the block to a point adjacent the opposite end edge thereof, and means carried by the bottom surface of said base to lock the lever in various positions to adjust the clamping block.

3. In a U-bolt forming machine the combination of a base having a forming block mounted thereon, a clamping block movable on said base, means for moving said last mentioned block to clamp a rod between the same and the forming block, levers carried by said clamping block adapted for engagement with the ends of the rod to bend the same, and shoes slidably mounted on said levers for protecting the ends of the rod.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

JOHN M. SMITH.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

